Research

Determining Earth Evolution from Palaeomagnetism: This research, which attempts to further develop palaeomagnetic records as a key constraint on the evolution deep Earth is led by Andy Biggin and Richard Holme under the DEEP research group.

Building and testing geomagnetic field models for the Holocene: We combine archaeomagnetic measurements of globally distributed rocks and archaeological materials, made using our world-leading facilities, with potential theory to improve global models of the Earth’s magnetic field. This work, crucial to determining the dynamics of the Earth’s core and constraining the behaviour of Earth’s magnetic field in the past, present and future, is led by Mimi Hill, Richard Holme and Andy Biggin.

Probing Earth's deep interior with rapid changes in Geomagnetic field and Earth rotation: Changes in the Earth’s magnetic field lasting less than one year, coupled with high-resolution records of variations in Earth’s length of day are being used to tell us about rapid changes in Earth's fluid core (such as waves and upwelling of core fluid) and also about the solid mantle that overlies it. This research, combining satellite and observatory data, to infer the physical properties of the deep Earth is led by Richard Holme.

Constraining the evolution of the core and mantle using long-term geomagnetic variations: We seek to document and explain variations in geomagnetic field behaviour on a timescales of millions to billions of years which are likely related to convection in the mantle and the thermal evolution of the entire planet. This research, which attempts to further develop palaeomagnetic records as a key constraint on the evolution deep Earth is led by Andy Biggin and Richard Holme.

Applying magnetic records to archaeological, volcanological, and environmental problems: Measurements of the magnetic properties of diverse samples in our state-of-the-art lab are regularly applied to such problems as determining chronology, measuring magma flow directions, and peak heating temperatures. This multidisciplinary work involves Andy Biggin and Mimi Hill working in collaboration with researchers at Liverpool and far beyond.

Improving the fidelity of palaeomagnetic records: Our group has a long-standing tradition of developing novel instrumentation and methodologies to drive forward the discipline of palaeomagnetism as a whole. The fruits of these innovations are evident in our unique facilitiesand also in continuing research led by Andy Biggin and Mimi Hill.

Archaeomagnetic sampling of a Roman staging post in the mid-Pyrenees

3.5 billion year old volcanics from the Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Central Crater of Mount Ruapehu in New Zealand sampled for palaeointensity